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Article MASONIC OATHS. ← Page 2 of 2 Article MASONIC OATHS. Page 2 of 2
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Masonic Oaths.
accompanied by certain ceremonies and the imprecation of heavy penalties . This , from that time to the present , has been the basis of Catholic opposition to the Fraternity . In speaking of oaths , Richard Carlisle says , in his " Manual of Freemasonry" : "I still deprecate all secret
associations , all oath makings , or absolute promises , as not necessary to the present welfare of English society . " He further says : " Masonic obligations are neither legal nor moral , " and , in referring to the abduction of Morgan , says " that Masonry ... as an association with secret oaths and ceremonies , is a political and social evil . "
It is admitted that in each of the degrees of Masonry there is an obligation , and that there is a declaration of constancy attached to them . The candidate is first informed that the obligations he is about to take contain nothing
which can conflict with any of the duties he owes to God , his country , his neighbour , or himself . There is nothing in any of them that can in any way conflict with his duties as a law abiding , moral , and religious citizen .
The Mason who violates his obligation , no matter under what penalties he may bind himself , can only be punished by reprimand , suspension , or expulsion from his Lodge and the Fraternity , and deprived of all privileges of the Order . To all intents and purposes he is Masonically dead to the
Fraternity , and to every member thereof . It is Masonic death , and that is the only penalty that can be inflicted , and the only that has ever been inflicted . I make that statement advisedly , so far as the Masonic Fraternity is
concerned as a body , regarding the disappearance of Morgan , who at one time resided in Toronto . That a man is thus dead and an outcast Masonically is not the fault of the Masonic Order . It is his own fault
The penalty attached to an obligation has no effect morally or otherwise . If the initiate should bind himself under no less a penalty than that inflicted upon Fleeter when he had his legs bound and tied to a chariot drawn by runaway
horses , and dragged and pounded and beaten to a jelly round the walls of Troy , or that of being shot out of a cannon , or of having his brains beaten out against the rocks of Gibraltar , could not possibly add anything to the effectiveness of his obligation .
Dr . Mackay has well said , " If in any promise or vow made oy Masons penalties are inserted , it may probably be supposed that they are used only with a metaphorical or pairaphrasical signification , and for the purpose of symbolic
or historical allusion . Any other interpretation would be entirely at variance with the opinions of the most intelligent Masons , who , it is to be presumed , best know the intent and meaning of their own ceremonies . "
In answer to the traducers , or so called Christian traducers , of Masonry , I will say that covenants , which are the same in effect as oaths or obligations , are of divine origin , and are found in the Scriptures as far back as the book of Genesis . In chapter xv . of that book it will be found that
where , to confirm a covenant which God made with Abraham , the latter , in obedience to the divine command , took a " heifer , a she goat , and a ram , and divided them in the midst , and laid each piece one against another , that the covenanting parties might pass between them . "
This custom is again alluded to in the book of Jeremiah xxxiv . 18 , 20 , as follows : " And I will give the men that have transgressed my covenant , which have not performed the words of the covenant which they have made before me when they cut the calf in twain , and passed between the parts thereof ; " & c .
Dr . Mackay , in his admirable work on symbolism , says , these ceremonies were performed in full in Biblical times as follows : The parties entering into a covenant hrst selected a proper animal , such as a calf or kid among the J ews , a sheep among the Greeks , or a pig among the Romans .
1 st The throat was then cut across with a single blow , so as to completely divide the windpipe and arteries without touching the bone . This was the first ceremony of the covenant .
2 nd . " The second was to tear open the breast , to take from thence the heart and vitals , and if , on inspection , the least imperfection was discovered , the body was considered unclean and thrown aside for another .
3 rd . " The third ceremony was to divide the body in twain , and to place the two parts to the north and south , so that the parties to the covenant mi ght pass between them
Masonic Oaths.
coming from the east and going to the west . The carcass was then left as a prey to the wild beasts of the field , and the vultures of the air , and thus the covenant was ratified . " To conclude , Rev . Dr . Oliver defines the penal sign as follows : " The penal sign marks our obligation , and reminds
us also of the fall of Adam and the dreadful penalty entailed thereby on his sinful posterity , being no less than death . It intimates that the stiff neck of the disobedient shall be cut
off from the land of the living by the judgment of God , even as the head is severed from the body by the sword of human Justice . " " Then Brethren let us ponder
What we Masons pledge to do , When prepared at yonder altar , We assume the Mason ' s vows , Foot and knee , breast , hand and cheek
Oftimes -warning , let them , speak , " And if we do the world will be benefitted by the existence of us as Masons . — " Masonic Sun . "
******»*****» # *** # In our last issue we spoke of the communication sent by authority of King Edward to the Grand Master of coloured Masons of New Jersey , in which our august Brother Edward called the coloured gentleman in question " Brother , "
and thanked him for his letter of sympathy and congratulation sent in behalf of the negro Masons of New Jersey . The " Free Press , " of London , Ont , spoke on the same subject recently , saying that a number of American Masons in different States are offended , & c . And the " Canadian
Craftsman , ' taking the subject up , remarks that it takes very little to offend its American Brethren . Really , Brother editors , you are crediting us across the St . Lawrence and the lakes with too much feeling in the matter . Let the writer for the London " Free Press" state how many American
Brothers he knows to have been offended . We will warrant there were few , and that he has chosen the term ' * offended " ill-advisedly . If very many of us were offended at King Edward for his conduct , the " Canadian Craftsman " would be excusable for its remark . It may not speak well for the
interest American Masons take in the Freemasonry of foreign lands , but it is , we think we may safely assert , true that Masons in the United States are much too busy with the welfare of the Fraternity in their several Jurisdictions to be greatly stirred up because the King of England
chooses to designate as Brother a man whom , because of a slight difference in views , we do not choose to call by the same title . Tut , tut , it is too trivial ! And , moreover , if we had been offended , you would have heard more of it than you have , Brother " Craftsman . "— " Tyler . "
********** A writer in the " Illinois Freemason " says •. " The world is rapidly coming to the eight hour system . Yet for ages Freemasonry has been teaching this principle as illustrated in the lesson of the twenty-four inch guage . Perhaps no one
question has agitated labour circles so much in recent years as that of reducing the hours of labour to eight , and the teaching of the twenty-four inch guage promises to become the universal law . " Perhaps , if Masons had been more diligent during all these ages in carrying out the teachings of
Masonry m every-day life , we might have had the eight hour system long ago—and many more improvements upon present systems equally desirable . It is undoubtedly true , as this writer says , that " much of the difficulty arising from the relation of man to man could be alleviated if made to conform
to the teachings of Freemasonry . " But if we as Masons do not conform strictly to these laudable teachings , how can we expect to bring the world up to the high standard set by the teachings of the Order ? Masonry may teach and teach for
ages , but , lacking application , its truths will ever be unproductive of the results at which they aim . If Freemasonry is fit for everyday life , let us put it into everyday life with a will , and realise the advancement of which we dream . — " Tyler . "
******* *** I strongly approve of following Lodge meetings with some form of refreshment . It emphasises more fully the
social side of our organisation , and meeting thus around the supper table tends to bring the Brethren more closely together than even the routine work of the Lodge can do . —Eden R . Walker . British Columbia ,
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Masonic Oaths.
accompanied by certain ceremonies and the imprecation of heavy penalties . This , from that time to the present , has been the basis of Catholic opposition to the Fraternity . In speaking of oaths , Richard Carlisle says , in his " Manual of Freemasonry" : "I still deprecate all secret
associations , all oath makings , or absolute promises , as not necessary to the present welfare of English society . " He further says : " Masonic obligations are neither legal nor moral , " and , in referring to the abduction of Morgan , says " that Masonry ... as an association with secret oaths and ceremonies , is a political and social evil . "
It is admitted that in each of the degrees of Masonry there is an obligation , and that there is a declaration of constancy attached to them . The candidate is first informed that the obligations he is about to take contain nothing
which can conflict with any of the duties he owes to God , his country , his neighbour , or himself . There is nothing in any of them that can in any way conflict with his duties as a law abiding , moral , and religious citizen .
The Mason who violates his obligation , no matter under what penalties he may bind himself , can only be punished by reprimand , suspension , or expulsion from his Lodge and the Fraternity , and deprived of all privileges of the Order . To all intents and purposes he is Masonically dead to the
Fraternity , and to every member thereof . It is Masonic death , and that is the only penalty that can be inflicted , and the only that has ever been inflicted . I make that statement advisedly , so far as the Masonic Fraternity is
concerned as a body , regarding the disappearance of Morgan , who at one time resided in Toronto . That a man is thus dead and an outcast Masonically is not the fault of the Masonic Order . It is his own fault
The penalty attached to an obligation has no effect morally or otherwise . If the initiate should bind himself under no less a penalty than that inflicted upon Fleeter when he had his legs bound and tied to a chariot drawn by runaway
horses , and dragged and pounded and beaten to a jelly round the walls of Troy , or that of being shot out of a cannon , or of having his brains beaten out against the rocks of Gibraltar , could not possibly add anything to the effectiveness of his obligation .
Dr . Mackay has well said , " If in any promise or vow made oy Masons penalties are inserted , it may probably be supposed that they are used only with a metaphorical or pairaphrasical signification , and for the purpose of symbolic
or historical allusion . Any other interpretation would be entirely at variance with the opinions of the most intelligent Masons , who , it is to be presumed , best know the intent and meaning of their own ceremonies . "
In answer to the traducers , or so called Christian traducers , of Masonry , I will say that covenants , which are the same in effect as oaths or obligations , are of divine origin , and are found in the Scriptures as far back as the book of Genesis . In chapter xv . of that book it will be found that
where , to confirm a covenant which God made with Abraham , the latter , in obedience to the divine command , took a " heifer , a she goat , and a ram , and divided them in the midst , and laid each piece one against another , that the covenanting parties might pass between them . "
This custom is again alluded to in the book of Jeremiah xxxiv . 18 , 20 , as follows : " And I will give the men that have transgressed my covenant , which have not performed the words of the covenant which they have made before me when they cut the calf in twain , and passed between the parts thereof ; " & c .
Dr . Mackay , in his admirable work on symbolism , says , these ceremonies were performed in full in Biblical times as follows : The parties entering into a covenant hrst selected a proper animal , such as a calf or kid among the J ews , a sheep among the Greeks , or a pig among the Romans .
1 st The throat was then cut across with a single blow , so as to completely divide the windpipe and arteries without touching the bone . This was the first ceremony of the covenant .
2 nd . " The second was to tear open the breast , to take from thence the heart and vitals , and if , on inspection , the least imperfection was discovered , the body was considered unclean and thrown aside for another .
3 rd . " The third ceremony was to divide the body in twain , and to place the two parts to the north and south , so that the parties to the covenant mi ght pass between them
Masonic Oaths.
coming from the east and going to the west . The carcass was then left as a prey to the wild beasts of the field , and the vultures of the air , and thus the covenant was ratified . " To conclude , Rev . Dr . Oliver defines the penal sign as follows : " The penal sign marks our obligation , and reminds
us also of the fall of Adam and the dreadful penalty entailed thereby on his sinful posterity , being no less than death . It intimates that the stiff neck of the disobedient shall be cut
off from the land of the living by the judgment of God , even as the head is severed from the body by the sword of human Justice . " " Then Brethren let us ponder
What we Masons pledge to do , When prepared at yonder altar , We assume the Mason ' s vows , Foot and knee , breast , hand and cheek
Oftimes -warning , let them , speak , " And if we do the world will be benefitted by the existence of us as Masons . — " Masonic Sun . "
******»*****» # *** # In our last issue we spoke of the communication sent by authority of King Edward to the Grand Master of coloured Masons of New Jersey , in which our august Brother Edward called the coloured gentleman in question " Brother , "
and thanked him for his letter of sympathy and congratulation sent in behalf of the negro Masons of New Jersey . The " Free Press , " of London , Ont , spoke on the same subject recently , saying that a number of American Masons in different States are offended , & c . And the " Canadian
Craftsman , ' taking the subject up , remarks that it takes very little to offend its American Brethren . Really , Brother editors , you are crediting us across the St . Lawrence and the lakes with too much feeling in the matter . Let the writer for the London " Free Press" state how many American
Brothers he knows to have been offended . We will warrant there were few , and that he has chosen the term ' * offended " ill-advisedly . If very many of us were offended at King Edward for his conduct , the " Canadian Craftsman " would be excusable for its remark . It may not speak well for the
interest American Masons take in the Freemasonry of foreign lands , but it is , we think we may safely assert , true that Masons in the United States are much too busy with the welfare of the Fraternity in their several Jurisdictions to be greatly stirred up because the King of England
chooses to designate as Brother a man whom , because of a slight difference in views , we do not choose to call by the same title . Tut , tut , it is too trivial ! And , moreover , if we had been offended , you would have heard more of it than you have , Brother " Craftsman . "— " Tyler . "
********** A writer in the " Illinois Freemason " says •. " The world is rapidly coming to the eight hour system . Yet for ages Freemasonry has been teaching this principle as illustrated in the lesson of the twenty-four inch guage . Perhaps no one
question has agitated labour circles so much in recent years as that of reducing the hours of labour to eight , and the teaching of the twenty-four inch guage promises to become the universal law . " Perhaps , if Masons had been more diligent during all these ages in carrying out the teachings of
Masonry m every-day life , we might have had the eight hour system long ago—and many more improvements upon present systems equally desirable . It is undoubtedly true , as this writer says , that " much of the difficulty arising from the relation of man to man could be alleviated if made to conform
to the teachings of Freemasonry . " But if we as Masons do not conform strictly to these laudable teachings , how can we expect to bring the world up to the high standard set by the teachings of the Order ? Masonry may teach and teach for
ages , but , lacking application , its truths will ever be unproductive of the results at which they aim . If Freemasonry is fit for everyday life , let us put it into everyday life with a will , and realise the advancement of which we dream . — " Tyler . "
******* *** I strongly approve of following Lodge meetings with some form of refreshment . It emphasises more fully the
social side of our organisation , and meeting thus around the supper table tends to bring the Brethren more closely together than even the routine work of the Lodge can do . —Eden R . Walker . British Columbia ,